American Idol: Which Contestant Brought Mariah Carey to Tears?

Wednesday

Jan 30, 2013 at 12:01 AM

They say the best things come in small packages, and that was certainly the case on Wednesday's American Idol, when a diminutive hopeful wowed the judges and brought Mariah Carey to tears.Matheus Fernandes, 21, had gone to see doctors all ...

TV Guide

They say the best things come in small packages, and that was certainly the case on Wednesday's American Idol, when a diminutive hopeful wowed the judges and brought Mariah Carey to tears.

Matheus Fernandes, 21, had gone to see doctors all his life to determine what was preventing him from growing. "They couldn't really figure anything out. They were just like, 'Dude, it's not a hormonal problem. You're not disproportionate. You're just plain short,'" he explained.

Fernandes, who said that he was bullied throughout high school and middle school due to his stature, started his audition by asking the judges good-naturedly, "Is there a height limit on this show?" And then he delivered a blistering rendition of Sam Cooke's "A Change Is Gonna Come" that earned him four yeses from the table.

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His performance came at the end of a long day of auditions, which also featured a girl with purple hair giving the judges the finger as she literally screamed Adele's "Set Fire to the Rain," and a unique soul singer from Mississippi named Papa Peachez.

"We're looking for a very special person, and you fit that bill," Nicki Minaj told Fernandes.

"Growing up was definitely a challenge," Fernandes said. "Everybody else would grow taller, and I'd be in the same place."

But now, he's heading to Hollywood! Check back for video of Fernandes' audition when it becomes available.

View original American Idol: Which Contestant Brought Mariah Carey to Tears? at TVGuide.com

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